Reflecting on 2025

I'd like to spend a moment to reflect on 2025 and thank everyone who has made it such an adventure for me. This has undoubtably been the most exciting, professionally engaging and personally challenging year of my life.

This year I've had the enormous privilege to work across Turkey, Denmark, Brazil, Finland, Scotland, Norway, Belfast, Derry, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, the Isle of Wight (pic on ferry), Birmingham, Exeter, Warwick, London and so many places in between. I've tried my best to represent the conversations, criticisms and innovations emerging in the UK around AI, and to champion the incredible work which cultural organisations are doing in this country to explore the technology in ways which match their values and commitments to their artists, audiences and staff.

I'd like to particularly thank The Audience Agency, Arts Marketing Association, The Access Group, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), The Open University and Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society for everything they've done this year in the different ways we've worked together.

On top of that I am incredibly, incredibly grateful to every client, organisation and conference I've worked with in the last twelve months, including Japan House London, Muzeum Prahy, the Albany, Arts Council England, NI Science Festival, Anything is Possible, Crafts Council, Storyhouse, Artichoke Trust, National Galleries of Scotland, Royal Academy of Dance, Tixly, IJAD Dance Company, Royal Academy of Arts, Dance Umbrella, University of Exeter, IoDF, Royal Ballet and Opera, Bradford Producing Hub, Punchdrunk Enrichment, Creative Black Country, Warwick Arts Centre, Good Nugget, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Historic Royal Palaces, Writing East Midlands, Future Arts Centres, The Natural History Consortium, Goethe-Institut, University of Leeds, Bucks Culture, One Giant Leap., Den Danske Filmskole, BEYOND Conference and many others. I have found it fascinating, thrilling and lovely with each of you, and I couldn't do this work without your support.

My own opinions and predictions about AI don't interest me. My ambition in my work is to act as a conduit for all aspects, applications, conversations and criticisms that are emerging in the sector, and to connect people and ideas together whenever I can. I see myself as employed by the culture sector as a whole, and everyone here as a colleague - so please don't be shy if you have questions or want to learn about other projects I'm involved with.

For now, I'd like to wish everyone here a really lovely holiday break. I'm absolutely aware of how hard you all work, and everyone here deserves to find peace, gentleness and maybe a hot bath over the next few weeks. Thank you again for everything, and I look forward to so much in 2026.